The brand-new Lexus NX 300h is more than just a crossover with SUV styling. It has a sophisticated electric all-wheel drive system that delivers more traction as needed by the driver.
The innovative technology, in addition to being lightweight and small, also avoids the drawbacks of bulkier, mechanical AWD systems in terms of weight, packaging, emissions, and fuel consumption.
The E-Four system, which increases traction and improves vehicle control on slick surfaces, drives the rear axle with the help of an additional electric motor. The hybrid gasoline engine, electric motor, or both together provide power for the front axle.
In order to maintain the proper level of stability when accelerating or pulling away in slick circumstances, E-Four intelligently adjusts the amount of drive torque to the rear wheels based on driving dynamics and road conditions. The driver doesn’t have to think about turning on AWD because it is automatic.
Due to the fact that all-wheel drive is only activated when necessary, it also saves energy and petrol. The transaxle’s traction motor’s electrical supply is reduced and the rear axle motor’s supply is increased when the system senses a loss of traction at the front wheels. The NX 300h’s regenerative braking technology uses the rear motor as a generator, maximizing the amount of kinetic energy that can be captured and converted into electrical energy.
All UK versions of the new NX 300h come standard with E-Four, with the exception of the S model, which only has front-wheel drive. The crossover’s effective operation aids in achieving a combined cycle fuel economy of 54.3 mpg with 121 g/km CO2 emissions.
In This Article...
Does the Lexus NX300 handle snow well?
According to reviews of the 2019 Lexus NX, Nebraskan drivers adore the way this new Lexus SUV handles in the snow. Finance a brand-new Lexus NX 300, or find more about the class-leading 31 combined mpg rating of the 2019 NX Hybrid. Electronic AWD System is one possible addition for winter driving.
What does “AWD” mean on my Lexus NX 300?
Who is it, you ask? Simply count the buttons; if you see three (as in the image below), four (for an AWD basic NX), or five (for an AWD, F SPORT NX), you are looking at an NX with the Premium Package level.
What distinguishes 4WD and AWD from each other?
In contrast to AWD, 4WD locks the front and rear driveshafts together while still sending power to both the front and rear axles. This indicates that the power applied to the two axles is equal. As a result, the car has more traction when driving off-road in muddy, snowy, or sandy conditions.
What makes four-wheel drive superior to all-wheel drive?
AWD reduces some of the drama associated with driving on snow and ice. When dealing with severe snow and ice, 4WD is the way to go. Without a doubt, 4WD is superior if you also want to venture off the beaten path into the wilderness. Additionally, 4WD vehicles often have a far higher towing capacity than AWD vehicles.
What does my Lexus’ snow button do?
The first thing to keep in mind when driving on snowy or icy roads is that it may take up to 10 times as long to stop before you. Therefore, it’s critical to slow down generally and widen the gap with the vehicle in front of you.
Bends must be expected much earlier than usual because to the equally decreased lateral grip. It is highly risky to brake on slick corners because the power of centrifugal force will pull you outward into the road or into the path of oncoming cars. Be careful when using the steering and throttle, and reduce your speed gradually and in plenty of time.
When it’s slick, inputs that could be just right in dry circumstances could be too extreme, possibly causing understeer (loss of front-end traction), oversteer (loss of rear-end traction), or a complete lack of grip.
If grip is lost while gently accelerating, it can be restored by letting off the gas and directing the vehicle in the skid’s direction. However, the anti-lock braking system will pulse the braking effort if traction is lost when applying light brakes. If this happens, keep steering in the direction you wish to go.
A “Snow” button can be found on many Lexus vehicles, close to the gear shifter. Use it if applicable. By lowering torque to the driving wheels, this option enables the advanced electronics to maximize traction on slick conditions.
What drives the Lexus NX AWD?
In order to increase traction, the Lexus AWD system automatically distributes power between two or four wheels, varying the distribution from 50/50 to 30/70, as necessary. Cornering Control is a component of this technology that can control oversteer and understeer.
How can I tell if my car has two or four wheels?
Great inquiry. You can check your car’s handbook or conduct your own research to determine if it has four-wheel drive (4WD).
Typically, you can learn the solution by:
- a Ford dealership service advisor in your area.
- Look for 4WD-specific badges on the liftgate or the sides of the vehicle. Your Explorer might have 4WD inscribed someplace on it because automakers love to sell the characteristics of their vehicles.
- reading the manual for your car.
- obtaining a vehicle history report using your vehicle identifying number (VIN) from a website like CarFax.
If you want to conduct your own research:
- Examine the engine. Vehicles with 4WD have engines that are longitudinally positioned (front to rear), with belts on the front.
- On the underside of your car, look to determine if there is a front- and a rear-drive axle. To get an idea of what these look like, you can check at images online.
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What issues is the Lexus NX experiencing?
Issues with the electrical system, the construction, and the engine are some of the most common complaints made to the NHTSA by car owners. Although there are many different sizes and designs of luxury SUVs, the 2020 Lexus NX300 frequently stands out from the crowd.
What all-wheel drive Lexus models are there?
Lexus SUVs with AWD
- 2019 Lexus UX: With a 181-hp 2.0L 4-cylinder engine and a hybrid drivetrain, this entry-level compact luxury SUV provides three all-wheel drive configurations.
- Lexus NX 2020:
- Lexus RX 2020:
- Lexus GX for 2019:
- Lexus LX 570 2020:
AWD or 4WD: Which performs better in snow?
When necessary, all-wheel-drive systems automatically apply torque to all four wheels or deliver power to all four wheels simultaneously. All-wheel drive is therefore recommended for navigating icy and snowy routes.
Is 4WD or AWD more fuel-efficient?
In general, 2-wheel drive vehicles get better gas mileage than all-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive vehicles. There is a reason for this: AWD or 4WD vehicles must transmit power to all four wheels, which uses additional energy.
Drive in snow with AWD?
In light to moderate snow, all-season tires and an AWD (all-wheel-drive) are usually safe to operate. But a widespread misconception holds that AWDs would behave like tanks when driving in slick situations.
If you’re driving in a blizzard or snowy conditions, it’s advised that your AWD has either winter tires or snow chains. Winter driving poses a safety risk for any car with summer or worn all-season tires. If the tires on a 4WD (four-wheel-drive) vehicle have insufficient tread, even that vehicle will slide and skid on icy roads.
What AWD Does Really Well in Snow
When the pavement is slick, AWD is excellent at accelerating smoothly in a straight line from a complete stop. This is accomplished by sending less power to the spinning wheels and more power to whichever wheels have the best traction.
But the AWD system is ineffective if you don’t have adequate traction to begin with. You’re in trouble if none of the four tires have enough traction.
For this reason, in deep snow or on ice, an AWD with all-season tires might not be able to provide safe braking and precise handling. According to some independent testing, front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicles fitted with winter tires will actually have shorter stopping distances and better cornering than AWD vehicles fitted with all-season tires.
How Winter Tires Provide Better Traction
To be clear, winter tires, often known as snow tires, are actually designed for superior road traction in ALL winter situations, including rain, ice, snow, and slush.
Specialized rubber that maintains pliability in freezing temperatures is used to make winter tires. For better traction even in below-freezing weather, they are built with tread features like deeper grooves, biting edges, sipes, optional studs, and different block shapes.
To keep their shape even on warm pavement, all-season and summer tires are made with a distinct rubber compound. They have fewer or shallower channels for ejecting water or snow and less angular surfaces.
Are Winter Tires Worth it for AWD Vehicles?
On slick roads, AWD is beneficial when you’re getting going or accelerating, but less so when you’re turning or stopping. It doesn’t take the place of winter tires.
If you only go through snowy regions once or twice a year, an AWD with all-season tires in good condition can be sufficient. Just remember to have tire chains on hand.
Purchasing a set of winter tires for your AWD will give you the traction you need in the majority of winter weather conditions if you live somewhere that gets really cold or if you drive through more than a few small snowfalls each month. Of course, during the worst conditions, you could also require a set of sturdy chains.
Does four-wheel drive use more fuel?
- Because four-wheel drive systems require more energy, four-wheel drive vehicles use more fuel.
Sometimes a decent set of tires are more important than the drivetrain of the car. For instance, snow tires let you stop and turn on icy roads, something the drivetrain can’t accomplish for you.
When deciding between two-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles, take into account where you reside and the type of driving you undertake.
What are the drawbacks of an all-wheel drive system?
A vehicle with all-wheel drive transmits power to each of its four wheels while it is moving. Through the computer in the car, this happens automatically. AWD vehicles are among the most capable and safe on the market as a whole. The majority of automobiles and crossovers come with AWD.
AWD Pros
- has increased traction and livelier handling to keep you safer on the road.
- When necessary, AWD sends more or less power to each wheel and axle in accordance with the road’s conditions.
- suitable at highway speeds as well as lower speeds
- Many drivers prefer AWD since the computer-controlled system is always on and requires almost no input from the driver.
In 4WD, do all four wheels turn?
By delivering the same amount of power to each tire on an axle regardless of the traction variations between them, locking differentials elevate the situation to a new level. This increases the likelihood that a wheel with more traction will be able to move the automobile when there is little traction.
Although auto-locking differentials are available on some 4WD cars, locking differentials are typically driver-activated.
Depending on the vehicle, a locking differential may only be on the rear axle and a limited slip or open differential may be on the front. Alternatively, locking differentials may be present on both the front and back axles.
True 4WD is provided by a 4WD vehicle with two locking differentials.
No matter what, the power to turn the four wheels is the same. The wheels on the other side of your car will still experience a constant level of torque even if the wheels on one side are entirely off the ground.
The only 4WD vehicles that frequently engage in intense off-roading, such as driving over rocks and other obstacles, are those with dual locking differentials. Simply having 4WD with LSDs on the front and rear axles, or a rear-locking differential with a front LSD, will be sufficient for the majority of regular people.
In this video, open differentials, limited slip differentials, and locking differentials are used to demonstrate how traction works on a 4WD.